New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-30
THE ROODLER' CICTORY.

election by q combination OF every CoiIuPV anu
evil clement in the city with the blind partisan
shin and siavish devotion to bad guidance which
ALWAYS characterize the Democratic majority
| in New-York This was bad enough, and after
| the election Of Colonel Fellows as Dlstrct-At-
torney only few sanguinc people dared TO
expcct that any addition would be made to the
number of boodlcrs convicted for the crimes
oflSS4 The decision of the Court OF Appears
yesterday in reversing the conviction OF JACOB
Sharp gave the final blow to the hopes OF honest
| citizens. The case against Sharp was prepared
with an immense amount of labor, and with
diligence and care rarely surpassed or even
couallcd in such matters. The trial was held
before one of the abcst. most impartial ana
pure minded judges in America. When tho
result came before the General Term of the
| Supreme Court it was confirmed by the unanl-
nous agreement Of the experienced and saga
cjous iursts on that bench. But the Court OF
| Appeals has decided that the General Term OF
the Supreme Court and Judge Barrett are AL
wrong. and their decision deals so fatal stroke
to the whole structure of evidence against JACOB
Sharp that even the stoutcst-hcarcd ana most
resolute Of public prosecutors might well quall
before the task of bringing this man before
trial jury again
It was great victory for the cause Of IN
tcgrty in public affairs when this coruptcr OF
lt cislators and officials was found guilty ana
sentenced. It's terrible defeat Of all that IS
best and most honorcd by conscientious and
intelligent men that our highest court has
found it necessary to overthrow this saiutary
and brilliant achievement. There can be little
doubt that it will put an end to the
series Of DOODLE prosecutions. Is Colonel
Fellows the man to undertake in the face OF
such a decision as this to prosecute the cunning
rascal who has bought one Board Of Aldermen
after another, and has hcapcd up great fortune
by plundcring his fcllow-ctizcnS Of valuable
rights and priyilcgcS7
The cxiles at Montreal can now safely return
to the city. An era Of public plumber and OF
immunity from punishment for thieves in and
out of office, for the givcrs and receivers Of
brides. may easily set in. The prospect for
this metropolis is darker to-day than it has been
since the Tweed gang were forced out Of their
s,ronpbolds. II need not be long before John
Keenan, is again welding openly and conSpIcu-
onsly in the County Democracy the influence
which he welded there for many years before
his flight. The boodlcrs under indictment and
their friends showed in the voting at the recent
election their power i'll the great Democratic
wards Of this city. Strengthened and cmDoId-
cncd by the failure Of the efforts to send JACOB
Sharp to State Prison to serve out the sentence
which he so richly deserved, and reinforced
by tho resources and abilities Of the bismarck
Of tho County Democracy and his Montreal
associates, the troop Of highwaymcn who de-
spoiled the city in 1851 can return TO their
stcaings with renewed energy and vigor Their
schemes can take on larger scope. They
need not be satisfied with the amounts which
contcntcd them three years ago. Seeing the
practical immunity which the foremost pro-
moter Of corrupt jobs in this city has now
secured they may be encouraged to carry on
with less disguise and with less prccautlon
their plans for the robbery Of this community.
1t is most dcporaBie most gricvous disaster
for the people Of Ncw-York
Not a man in this city doubts Jacob Sharp 5
guilt Of the crime for which he was sentenced,
and Of many others that were not brought up
AGAINST him. 1t is a source Of the bIttcicst
humiliation and shame for this metropolis that
it appears impossible here to punish him as
he should be punished for those crimes He
will now, Of course be promptly admitted to
bail, and as there seems little danger OF
any further prosecution he will pass the re-
maindcr Of his days in freedom, peace and
contcntmcnt Jachnc may well complain OF
his lot. Not one whit more guilty than Jacob
Sharp. he is imprisoned for years at hard labor
in Sing Sing The Court Of Appeals discovered
no reason for reversing the verdict in his case,
and vet the confession into which Jachnc was
bcguilcd was used against him with CRUSHING
effect Jacob Sharp testified before the Senate
Committee on the advice Of counsel with ample
opportunity for preparation, with every advan-
tace that witness testifyng before com
mttce only anxious to get at the truth could
possibly desire. Jachnc was dcudcd into fatal
admissions Of his infamy by clever trick and
stratagcm practised upon him by Inspector
! Ryrncs Jacob Sharp was summoned before
committee Of honorable men, anxious only
| To give him every chance to clear himself II he
could. Yet the Court Of Appeals found that
JacbDc's confession was property and legally
used against him. The court finds that Jacob
Sbarps cautious and guarded admissions on the
stand before the Senate Committee were illegal
and improperly used against him. No doubt
this is good law Every man must listen with
respect to the judgment Of the highest court
OF the State Of New-York but if there is SUBJ
stantial equity and consistency in these two
diverse conclusions the lay mind may find it
difficult to discover these qualities.
This is to be n remarkably attractive town
for INSCRIPTIONS rascals who want to get a
living out of their neighbors without hard
work. so long as the great mass of Democratic
voers stand behind and support the friends
and representatives of such men as Sharp, Kirk,
Clcary Shells, Keenan,. MoIoney and the rest OF
tho Doodle gang. Tho city once suffered
severely in the clutch of Forty Thieves. New
York is much larger and much richer now than
IL was then. and furnishes vastly more tempting
booty. The number Of the thieves may be
l ,,,,ry t;c.oe hoyoud forfv uhile fhC